Sniper Operation

This week I was called out for a sniper operation due to a barricaded subject who was shooting at police. Instantly my mind starts racing and all different scenarios start playing through in my mind. But this is where your training will prevail and the lessons you've been taught will come into play.

My mission was to locate a FFP (final firing position) in front of the residence of the barricaded subject. Another sniper and myself located large tree stumps and large piles of wood debris as our sniper hides. We were roughly 70 plus yards from the residence.

For several hours we laid prone looking through our glass (scopes) and providing overwatch for the team members stacked up around the residence. This operation was a city police operation and they asked the Sheriff's Department for assistance. For the first time working with another swat team, the operation went smooth.

As I was laying there observing and watching, all your training keeps you calm. Some people ask why all the training all the time, and it's for these days. Every thing just slows downs, you remember every sound, every smell, and you are in a complete state of calmness.

And I will say the mobile phones and social media are both a curse and a blessing. Since we were in a neighborhood, I was actually in someone yard. They were home and they had a front row seat to all the excitement. So the property owner takes a picture of me and it ends up on social media. That's bad! Remember, bad guys are watching social media as well. Thankfully, we were able to make contact with the person who took the photo and it was taken down. SAFETY FIRST!

At the end of the day the offender made the decision to end his own life. The operation was and was not a success. Why? The true successful operation is when everyone (including the bad guy) comes out unhurt.

So in closing I hope you all continue to train, and learn from everyone.

Right Hand Tactical

Psalm 110:1